[Signing] Flames sign James Neal (5 years, 5.75 AAV)

[Monahammer]

Originally Posted by New Era

Backlund and Tkachuk are not a pair. Backlund and Frolik are the pair. They play similar games and are very complimentary to each other in their skill sets. If anything, Tkachuk is the square peg playing with those two. Tkachuk is in search of a center that is creative and can distribute the puck better. I’d be more inclined to go with the following:

Gaudreau-Monahan-Neal
Tkachuk-Jankowski-Lindholm
Bennett-Backlund-Frolik
Hathaway-Ryan-Brouwer
Czarnik

Until Treliving manages to move the immovable, you have to account for those guys in the lineup. Plus, the 4th line does need some size. I don’t think you can get by with three smurfs on a line in the NHL.

Similar thoughts to you, but lindholm produces better as a centre and has out performed janko at every level (including the nhl). He should be our 2nd line centre.

Gaud-Money-Deal
Tkachuk-Lindholm-Bennett
Frolik-backlund-ryan
Lazar-jankowski-czarnik

[Duffalufagus]

Jankowski will be in a battle to make the team.

[keenan87]

Originally Posted by Duffalufagus

Jankowski will be in a battle to make the team.

After scoring 17 goals last year? You are right, give him more seasoning in the AHL.

[Bingo]

Berkshire on Neal signing

Flames Did Well Signing Neal

We talked last year about the Flames high scoring chance rates, but wondered if they were too stationary, not enough coming off the pass.

Here are to clips that suggest he may be just what the doctor ordered

One area that is of particular interest is Neal’s ability to get scoring chances off the rush, an area that the Flames could take advantage of to a great degree, since only the Chicago Blackhawks completed more passes off the rush than the Flames did last year, so you may see Neal stepping into a whole lot of one-timers off the rush this season while playing his off side.

Surprisingly, Neal is also a pretty decent playmaker, at least better than he gets credit for, completing passes to the slot at a top-six forward level, which should help if he slots on that top line with Monahan and Gaudreau like I’m assuming.

[tvp2003]

Originally Posted by Duffalufagus

Jankowski will be in a battle to make the team.

Even if Peters starts off with Monahan, Lindholm, Backlund and Ryan down the middle, there is a spot for Jankowski on this team. Obviously centre is his natural spot and he will likely continue to develop at that position, but at minimum he lands a spot on the wing (over the likes of Lazar, Brouwer, Hathaway, Foo and Mangiapane).

[getbak]

Jankowski played enough games last year that he's no longer waiver exempt. He's not getting put on waivers. He will be a full-time NHLer next season.

[Rhettzky]

Love hearing stuff like this...

https://twitter.com/BoomerAndRhett/s...678011904?s=19

[Manhattanboy]

I haven't looked at his numbers but thought Jankowski looked better as the season went on.

And Tre mentioned on the radio that it's much easier to move a centre to the side than vice versa.

[Bingo]

I think Peters is a huge face off guy so having left and right shot centers on lines should see a lot of ins and outs in the dot.

If you have Backlund with Lindholm and Ryan with Jankowski they just take the draws on their dominant sides.

Plus lots of teams muck with defensive coverage now too ... winger takes the down low and the center takes his high boards position. More fluid now so you don't really need to label players, especially when you have up to 8 centers in your 12

[djsFlames]

Yeah so this is still awesome today. Still buzzing over the newly retooled roster, as well as potentially three 30 goal scorers on the same line and PP unit.

Let's get the hype train rolling in here again. Too ho hum today.

[CorsiHockeyLeague]

Originally Posted by djsFlames

Yeah so this is still awesome today. Still buzzing over the newly retooled roster, as well as potentially three 30 goal scorers on the same line and PP unit.

Let's get the hype train rolling in here again. Too ho hum today.

I think people are right to take a wait and see attitude rather than get too worked up and excited at this stage. Your post for example - Neal has scored 30 or more goals exactly twice in his career. He has 8 20+ goal seasons, including five of the past six years, four of which did not exceed 25 goals. If he does 25-25-50 next year, that's a win. But given his last four seasons have been 37, 58, 41, 44 points... wait and see seems appropriate.

[topfiverecords]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I think people are right to take a wait and see attitude rather than get too worked up and excited at this stage. Your post for example - Neal has scored 30 or more goals exactly twice in his career. He has 8 20+ goal seasons, including five of the past six years, four of which did not exceed 25 goals. If he does 25-25-50 next year, that's a win. But given his last four seasons have been 37, 58, 41, 44 points... wait and see seems appropriate.

For an analytics guy you'd think you would actually look at the stats.

In 2011-2012 he scored 40 goals in 80 games. Near full season. 41 goal pace.
In 2012-2013 he scored 21 in 40 games. The 48 game lockout year. 25 goal pace. 43 in a full season.
In 2013-2014 he scored 27 in 57 games. 39 goal pace.
In 2014-2015 he scored 23 in 67 games. 28 goal pace.
In 2015-2016 he scored 31 in 82 games. Full season with a new team and linemates.
In 2016-2017 he scored 23 in 70 games. 27 goal pace.
In 2017-2018 he scored 25 in 71 games. New team and linemates. 29 goal pace.

[djsFlames]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I think people are right to take a wait and see attitude rather than get too worked up and excited at this stage. Your post for example - Neal has scored 30 or more goals exactly twice in his career. He has 8 20+ goal seasons, including five of the past six years, four of which did not exceed 25 goals. If he does 25-25-50 next year, that's a win. But given his last four seasons have been 37, 58, 41, 44 points... wait and see seems appropriate.

If there was a poll taken a month ago with this outcome being one of options, it would be considered outside of landing Tavares amongst the best case scenario for this team.

I say "potentially" because of the gifted playmaking ability of gaudreau who is more than capable of achieving thornton assist totals at his peak, and Monahan finally being healthy without question marks there. But i agree 25-25 is still excellent and helps us, as well as the added potential that Lindholm, Ryan and Czarnik bring to the forward ranks.

Why not get excited as a fan? This is precisely what many were (no exaggeration) clamouring for but didn't think was realistic and they just got precisely that.

As far as off-seasons, if this doesn't provide at least some hope, if not palpable buzz for the coming season, then there probably aren't a lot of things you do enjoy as a fan outside of Stanley cups.

Edit - was also going to mention the scoring pace as the above poster has. He's been at a higher pace most years if prorated over a full season.

[Textcritic]

Originally Posted by CorsiHockeyLeague

I think people are right to take a wait and see attitude rather than get too worked up and excited at this stage. Your post for example - Neal has scored 30 or more goals exactly twice in his career. He has 8 20+ goal seasons, including five of the past six years, four of which did not exceed 25 goals. If he does 25-25-50 next year, that's a win. But given his last four seasons have been 37, 58, 41, 44 points... wait and see seems appropriate.

If Neal lines up with Gaudreau and Monahan I don't see how he does not score 30 goals. Even if he is not with them 5v5 he will score a tonne of goals with them on the powerplay. Conversely, if Lindholm is on that line then I think Gaudreau is a good bet to score 30.

There are several ways for the Flames to get there, but I think chances are quite solid that there will be three 30-goal scorers on this roster next year.

[GioforPM]

Originally Posted by Textcritic

If Neal lines up with Gaudreau and Monahan I don't see how he does not score 30 goals. Even if he is not with them 5v5 he will score a tonne of goals with them on the powerplay. Conversely, if Lindholm is on that line then I think Gaudreau is a good bet to score 30.

There are several ways for the Flames to get there, but I think chances are quite solid that there will be three 30-goal scorers on this roster next year.

Neal's goals seem to have depended on his role and linemates. With top guys he's a guy who gets in the 30s. But even in a secondary role he can get you mid 20s. That's a positive to the Flames and a credit to him.

Has he played much RW? That would factor in for me.

[Bunk]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Neal's goals seem to have depended on his role and linemates. With top guys he's a guy who gets in the 30s. But even in a secondary role he can get you mid 20s. That's a positive to the Flames and a credit to him.

Has he played much RW? That would factor in for me.

That's what he plays, primarily. As a shooter, playing on off-wing is very common.

[Gaskal]

Originally Posted by GioforPM

Has he played much RW? That would factor in for me.

He touches on this particular issue in his Player's Tribune article, linked earlier.

One thing to notice is that I’m a left-handed shot playing the right wing here. That might seem like a small thing, but it’s actually a huge deal. I started my career as a left winger, so I was always receiving passes with the puck outside my body, away from the net. If you’re a playmaker, you might prefer this. I didn’t know how big of a difference this made until I got traded to Pittsburgh. Dan Bylsma walked in the first day and asked, “Hey, do you think you could play right wing?”

I’m like, “Uh, well I’ve never played it before, so I’m not sure?”

He says, “Okay great, you’re playing right wing.”

Once I got used to it, I really elevated my game, because whenever I shot the puck on my forehand, the release point was closer to the net. I was a threat at all times, especially on one-timers. I ended up scoring 40 goals the next season. So whenever a guy switches wings, it has a lot of implications for how he plays. (Thanks, Dan. You were one of the best teachers I’ve ever had.)

[Yrebmi]

Originally Posted by Monahammer

Similar thoughts to you, but lindholm produces better as a centre and has out performed janko at every level (including the nhl). He should be our 2nd line centre.

Gaud-Money-Deal
Tkachuk-Lindholm-Bennett
Frolik-backlund-ryan
Lazar-jankowski-czarnik

Props for the "Good Money Deal" line.

On your second line I would move Benny left and Chucky the the RHS as Peters has mentioned he might try Tkachuk there.

[Classic_Sniper]

Looks like lots has changed about this team over the weekend here. It sounds like signing Neal was in the works for a while but Treliving somehow managed to keep things quiet. Well done.

Even though it was costly, I'm glad the Flames finally have acquired someone with a big shot. The velocity in which he shoots it might instantly be the best on the team among forwards so that should be a big help on the powerplay. His one shot scoring ability will be very helpful when we're down one or two and need that late game breaking goal that we didn't seem to have last season.

Overall, I'm quite pleased with Treliving's work. Last season we had a lot of players who were punching above their weight, so slotting these players down now into positions where they can better succeed should is probably the best thing about all the moves he has made. The bottom 6 is completely different which was a sore spot all year. Have to say, I'm looking forward to the start of October to see how this all pans out.

[dammage79]

I'm very impressed with Trelving and the management team here. They new exactly what holes they had and went out and fixed it.

I also like what he said yesterday. We want our kids to push, but making this team should not be easy. It's not easy any more, they have to ramp up their game if they want to come in and steal a spot.

Honestly now there's what? Maybe 2 or 3 spots to take on the main FW roster now?

Less than that. 2 maybe 1. and that'd be #4 LW. Everything else is locked in.

The good news is though, we have depth now. we can suffer trough some injuries and stay afloat. We won't be sunk by losing a couple of players at forward.